Warwick Smith/Stuff
Already a New Zealand citizen, Gio Vasquez, centre right, attends the ceremony to witness his father Gil Joseph David Vasquez, become a citizen.
The long wait for New Zealand citizenship was worth it for many of the latest group of New Zealand citizens in Manawatū.
The Palmerston North City Council held a ceremony at the Conference and Function Centre on Wednesday, welcoming the new citizens to the city.
More than 70 people, either individuals or family groups, born in 25 different countries crossed the stage to gain their citizenship.
Their countries of birth included South Africa, India, Nepal, Papua New Guinea and Kazakhstan.
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Colombian family Ana-Maria Soto Calero, Juan Carlos Garcia Ramirez and their son Tane Garcia-Soto, 10, all gained citizenship.
Tane had been born in New Zealand, but had kept his parents’ nationalit